The Green Bay Packers and Jermichael Finley appeared as if they were headed to an acrimonious contract dispute that would come as a result of the team placing the franchise tag on the young tight end. Well, no need to worry about that happening, as the two sides reached an agreement on a contract Wednesday night.

Finley and the Packers have agreed to a two-year, $15 million deal that will keep Green Bay from using the tag on him. Had the 24-year-old been tagged he would have received around $5.5 million for the 2012 season which would have made him the league’s 11th-highest paid tight end. Clearly he wouldn’t have been happy with such a scenario.

At 6’5 and 247 pounds, the Texas product is one of the NFL’s most athletic tight ends in the NFL. He often lines up split out wide because of his ability to run and cut like a wideout. After missing much of Green Bay’s Super Bowl run in 2010 thanks to injuries, Finley bounced back to have a solid season in 2011. He caught 55 passes for 767 yards and eight touchdowns.

In four years in the NFL, Finley has played in 48 games, and in that time he has 137 receptions for 1,818 yards and 15 touchdowns.

“It’s TRUE! Thank you so much to the Packers organization, all of my fans, and my beautiful wife. Happy Bday. Let’s GO Packers! Back soon…”

This is a great move for both sides, seems like a win all the way around. Finley struggled mightily with drops towards the end of the season, but he’s a very talented player and should get more consistent as he matures.